Comments on: Open Letter to MS Games Studios http://www.simflight.com/2009/02/08/open-letter-to-ms-games-studios/ Flight Simulation News, Reviews, Forums Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:12:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ian P http://www.simflight.com/2009/02/08/open-letter-to-ms-games-studios/#comment-4741 Ian P Tue, 26 May 2009 15:47:53 +0000 http://simflight.com/?p=4059#comment-4741 Train Simulator wasn't sold to Kuju. Kuju developed Train Simulator. TS2 (the first one) was cancelled - Kuju then published it through Electronic Arts as Rail Simulator. They are about to release Rail Simulator 2, which is no relation at all to the, also cancelled, ACES-developed Train Sim 2 Mk.2. MS Have re-hired some of the ACES staff and have advertised positions for "a" flight related title. Current speculation is surrounding whether it will be an X-Box or "LIVE" on-demand based platform where you have to pay per use/component part or whether it will be a sim as we currently know it, which does not match Microsoft's stated ends of "on-demand" and LIVE based software. It really doesn't hurt to do a tiny amount of research before you post here, folks... Does it? Train Simulator wasn’t sold to Kuju. Kuju developed Train Simulator. TS2 (the first one) was cancelled – Kuju then published it through Electronic Arts as Rail Simulator. They are about to release Rail Simulator 2, which is no relation at all to the, also cancelled, ACES-developed Train Sim 2 Mk.2.

MS Have re-hired some of the ACES staff and have advertised positions for “a” flight related title. Current speculation is surrounding whether it will be an X-Box or “LIVE” on-demand based platform where you have to pay per use/component part or whether it will be a sim as we currently know it, which does not match Microsoft’s stated ends of “on-demand” and LIVE based software.

It really doesn’t hurt to do a tiny amount of research before you post here, folks… Does it?

]]> By: chipjohnson http://www.simflight.com/2009/02/08/open-letter-to-ms-games-studios/#comment-4687 chipjohnson Mon, 25 May 2009 17:49:07 +0000 http://simflight.com/?p=4059#comment-4687 Flight Simulator franchise sold to an external company? Like Train Simulator to Kuju... Flight Simulator franchise sold to an external company? Like Train Simulator to Kuju…

]]> By: Aead http://www.simflight.com/2009/02/08/open-letter-to-ms-games-studios/#comment-4607 Aead Fri, 22 May 2009 14:13:21 +0000 http://simflight.com/?p=4059#comment-4607 Ian, agreed, I'm a bit speculating. To continue this way: if no resurrection from MS and the code is gone for good, then I wouldn't be surprised to hear about an ESP-like intitiative from Google Labs some day. There is a community here to fuel such open project. Ian, agreed, I’m a bit speculating. To continue this way: if no resurrection from MS and the code is gone for good, then I wouldn’t be surprised to hear about an ESP-like intitiative from Google Labs some day. There is a community here to fuel such open project.

]]> By: Ian P http://www.simflight.com/2009/02/08/open-letter-to-ms-games-studios/#comment-4600 Ian P Thu, 21 May 2009 15:54:32 +0000 http://simflight.com/?p=4059#comment-4600 ESP was cancelled along with FSXI and Train Simulator 2. All three were being developed by the ACES division which was shut down. While there have been movements and appointments that imply the FS franchise is not entirely dead, ESP has not yet been resurrected. ESP was cancelled along with FSXI and Train Simulator 2. All three were being developed by the ACES division which was shut down.

While there have been movements and appointments that imply the FS franchise is not entirely dead, ESP has not yet been resurrected.

]]> By: Aead http://www.simflight.com/2009/02/08/open-letter-to-ms-games-studios/#comment-4592 Aead Wed, 20 May 2009 20:19:50 +0000 http://simflight.com/?p=4059#comment-4592 Dear All, The core of FS has now another name: Enterprise Similation Platform (ESP). This is the foundation to build other simulations, not limited to games. The probable expectation from MS is to make a business with this asset. The market here is enterprises using ESP for profitable business, and thus asking for more developments and ready to pay a lot for that. The future of FSX is thus bound to the commercial success of ESP. The FSX market is a small group of aircraft simulation lovers, not the size of console buyers. We are ready to invest hundreds of hours in learning to fly, but only $100 a year for our hobby. How many of us would spend the price for a real pilot license? MS is naturally looking for this kind of spending, not the mere hundred of dollars from members of the small similation community. Alternatevely, MS could be interested in selling FSX access on a time basis, we would buy FS hours, we would call that FS-Live. Companies have to make choices when profitability is not so high. How long it will take to Apple to decide to give up on iMacs, and focus on iPods that are so cheap to design and manufacture and are selling so massively at such indecent prices? Maybe it's time to see what open source can do in the flight simulation area. Forget about seeing FSX sources released to the public. ESP has likely a future, and serious potential customers. Dear All,

The core of FS has now another name: Enterprise Similation Platform (ESP). This is the foundation to build other simulations, not limited to games.

The probable expectation from MS is to make a business with this asset. The market here is enterprises using ESP for profitable business, and thus asking for more developments and ready to pay a lot for that. The future of FSX is thus bound to the commercial success of ESP.

The FSX market is a small group of aircraft simulation lovers, not the size of console buyers. We are ready to invest hundreds of hours in learning to fly, but only $100 a year for our hobby. How many of us would spend the price for a real pilot license? MS is naturally looking for this kind of spending, not the mere hundred of dollars from members of the small similation community. Alternatevely, MS could be interested in selling FSX access on a time basis, we would buy FS hours, we would call that FS-Live.

Companies have to make choices when profitability is not so high. How long it will take to Apple to decide to give up on iMacs, and focus on iPods that are so cheap to design and manufacture and are selling so massively at such indecent prices?

Maybe it’s time to see what open source can do in the flight simulation area. Forget about seeing FSX sources released to the public. ESP has likely a future, and serious potential customers.

]]> By: Alexander Mulder http://www.simflight.com/2009/02/08/open-letter-to-ms-games-studios/#comment-3730 Alexander Mulder Wed, 04 Mar 2009 09:34:10 +0000 http://simflight.com/?p=4059#comment-3730 I think it is absolutely terrible that Microsoft would even consider terminating a programme that literally hundreds of thousands of people use all over the globe. IVAO (International Aviation Organisation) with 62 countries actively running there own division under supervision of IVAO HQ and over 20.000 members each flying online. And this is without mentioning other online communities such as VATSIM. I truly believe that Microsoft is not aware of the impact this decision will have on the long term effect on Microsoft's sales. Many of these users are very well informed consumers who generate a very large portion of Microsoft's revenue and actions such as these can have devistating effects on brand loyalty and could ultimaltely lead in to losses instead of the, probably estimated, profits the dumping of ACE would mean for Microsoft. Alexander I think it is absolutely terrible that Microsoft would even consider terminating a programme that literally hundreds of thousands of people use all over the globe. IVAO (International Aviation Organisation) with 62 countries actively running there own division under supervision of IVAO HQ and over 20.000 members each flying online. And this is without mentioning other online communities such as VATSIM.
I truly believe that Microsoft is not aware of the impact this decision will have on the long term effect on Microsoft’s sales. Many of these users are very well informed consumers who generate a very large portion of Microsoft’s revenue and actions such as these can have devistating effects on brand loyalty and could ultimaltely lead in to losses instead of the, probably estimated, profits the dumping of ACE would mean for Microsoft.

Alexander

]]> By: Joop van Beek http://www.simflight.com/2009/02/08/open-letter-to-ms-games-studios/#comment-3584 Joop van Beek Sun, 15 Feb 2009 23:52:25 +0000 http://simflight.com/?p=4059#comment-3584 Hello Alex, You take the words right of my heart. Maybe it will more helpfull as we call all the flightsimmers to send a mail at the address of Microsoft. Joop. Hello Alex,

You take the words right of my heart.
Maybe it will more helpfull as we call all
the flightsimmers to send a mail at the address
of Microsoft.

Joop.

]]> By: Anton http://www.simflight.com/2009/02/08/open-letter-to-ms-games-studios/#comment-3579 Anton Sun, 15 Feb 2009 14:24:52 +0000 http://simflight.com/?p=4059#comment-3579 I fully agree François this is too bad! It really isn't just a game... I fully agree François

this is too bad!

It really isn’t just a game…

]]> By: francois http://www.simflight.com/2009/02/08/open-letter-to-ms-games-studios/#comment-3576 francois Sun, 15 Feb 2009 08:42:34 +0000 http://simflight.com/?p=4059#comment-3576 Hi Alex. Just as offended as all these FS fans who were left in the cold, totally by surprise??? Good ! ;-) Hi Alex. Just as offended as all these FS fans who were left in the cold, totally by surprise???

Good !

;-)

]]> By: Alexander http://www.simflight.com/2009/02/08/open-letter-to-ms-games-studios/#comment-3574 Alexander Sat, 14 Feb 2009 21:26:52 +0000 http://simflight.com/?p=4059#comment-3574 It is a European style letter to an American manager. He will feel immediately offended and just stop reading after the first sentence.... It is a European style letter to an American manager. He will feel immediately offended and just stop reading after the first sentence….

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